July 11, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7743 I have an amendment to make avail- thorization bill by Members of the mi- VENS, who is the chairman of the De- able $11.5 million for B–52 bomber nority would be fully funded. fense Appropriations Subcommittee, modifications. I have an amendment Our leader is here, and I want to and Senator INOUYE, the great Senator regarding the CAMP Program and an yield to the leader, Mr. President. from Hawaii. They always do a mag- amendment to provide moneys for P–3 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- nificent job on this legislation. It is aircraft personnel offset by a reduction jority leader is recognized. legislation that is very, very important in defense health and also provides ad- f to the defense of our country and car- ditional money for B–52 squadron per- rying out our commitments here in sonnel. We have a series of other NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT OF this country and around the world. We amendments that we are in the process 1996—MOTION TO PROCEED have troops in Bosnia right now that of clearing. I tell the Senate that there have a very important role they are are some 20 other amendments ready to trying to carry out. The President is go to be debated now. We have an addi- CLOTURE MOTION committed to that. They need the tional series here that I believe will be Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move to funds that are necessary to do their job cleared, and the amendment that is proceed to S. 1936 and I send a cloture wherever they are in the world, where pending has been cleared. I hope we motion to the desk. sailors are steaming today. They are will be able to proceed with those. It The PRESIDING OFFICER. The looking to us to provide the funds. does seem to me however, it is just an clerk will report. There are very important funds in this exercise in futility to have a filibuster The legislative clerk read as follows: legislation for every state that our on a defense bill. I intend to do what I CLOTURE MOTION military men and women are serving can to thwart that. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- in, and we need to get this done. We Mr. President, in my judgment, this ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the have 7 weeks left in this year. We have bill is the key to our being able to com- Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby 12 appropriations bills to get done, in- plete action on appropriations bills and move to bring to a close debate on the mo- cluding this one. We must get that get the whole subject cleared by the tion to proceed to S. 1936, the nuclear waste done or we cannot go home. We must end of the fiscal year. My good friend bill: get started, and we can complete this Trent Lott, Larry E. Craig, Fred Thomp- and our chairman, Senator HATFIELD, bill, I think, very quickly. is retiring this year. I want to do my son, Dan Coats, Don Nickles, Ted Ste- Now, what has happened—I under- vens, Craig Thomas, Richard G. Lugar, best to assure that the key bills that Slade Gorton, Spencer Abraham, Frank stand the concern by the Senators from we have, all the appropriations bills, H. Murkowski, Conrad R. Burns, Dirk Nevada about the nuclear waste issue. are sent to conference before the Au- Kempthorne, Alan K. Simpson, Bill By forcing my hand to do these cloture gust recess. Frist, Hank Brown. motions, it has speeded up the time in In my judgment, if we have to give Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now with- which this issue will come to a head. I up the August recess to do that, we draw the motion to proceed. had planned on not filing a cloture mo- should do it. If we are going to have The PRESIDING OFFICER. The mo- tion on the nuclear waste issue until filibusters on every bill, then so be it. tion to proceed is withdrawn. Friday and the vote would have oc- We will have to break them. It seems curred on Tuesday, but now it really is f this is an unfortunate circumstance. bringing it up sooner than it would Let me describe, for instance, this B– DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AP- have otherwise. 52 modification amendment. It pro- PROPRIATION FOR FISCAL YEAR Mr. President, this is an urgent, im- vides $11.5 million within the account 1997 portant issue for our country. There is that is already outlined in the bill to dangerous, radioactive nuclear waste CLOTURE MOTION modify the B–52 aircraft. These are re- stored in cooling pools all over this Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send quired to maintain the combat effec- country from Vermont to Minnesota to to the desk a motion to invoke cloture tiveness of the aircraft, should they be Idaho to South Carolina. This has been on the passage of the pending bill. called upon once again to fly combat an issue for 10 years which the Con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The missions. They are going to be offset gress and the governments, the admin- clerk will report. by a decrease in funds available to the istrations, Republican and Democrat, The bill clerk read as follows: F–15 fighter in the same account. I have not sufficiently addressed. Coun- think we can do that because we can CLOTURE MOTION tries like Sweden, France, Britain, and still proceed with the F–15. There has We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- Japan have stepped up to this issue of been a delay in the projected contract ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the how we deal with the temporary and award, and the fighter data link pro- Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on S. 1894, permanent storage of nuclear waste, gram will remain fully funded for 1997, the Defense Appropriations bill. but in America we have not been able according to the maximum amount Trent Lott, Ted Stevens, Larry E. Craig, to bring ourselves to do it. that can be spent. We believe we should Fred Thompson, Dan Coats, Charles At the same time, the ratepayers provide these moneys. There is an ini- Grassley, Richard G. Lugar, Don Nick- have paid millions, in fact, billions of tiative by the Senators from North Da- les, Mark O. Hatfield, Craig Thomas, dollars to move toward a time when we kota to assure the current floor struc- Slade Gorton, Spencer Abraham, Frank would have a permanent storage site ture be preserved, and we are trying to H. Murkowski, Conrad R. Burns, Dirk for nuclear waste. Do we wish it would prevent attrition of these aircraft. Kempthorne, Hank Brown. go away? Of course. We cannot wish it That is one of the amendments I have, Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I sim- away. It is there. Something must be and I am seeking to get approval today ply say to my friend from Nevada that done. This nuclear waste legislation is at this time. we can either proceed with the Defense probably the most important environ- We are also going to add $4.9 million bill and finish it today, or if he wishes mental legislation this Congress or any to the Navy’s personnel account and to try to filibuster this bill, if he will Congress will consider. $4.4 million to the Air Force personnel not agree to a time agreement, it is my (Mr. INHOFE assumed the chair.) account to allow the Navy to maintain recommendation to the leader that we Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we cannot an end-strength support of the P–3 recess until Monday and have the votes stick our heads in the sand. If we do, squadron, and the Air Force to main- on the cloture. That means we will we will probably be radioactive. We tain the personnel necessary to carry take up the nuclear waste bill first and have to step up to this issue. This is a out the B–52 mission as outlined by the when we get cloture on that, we will bipartisan bill. This is a bill that Sen- Senators from North Dakota. vote on it, and when we are finished ator MURKOWSKI has worked very hard We are trying to cooperate as much with that, we will finish the Defense on, as have Senator CRAIG of Idaho and as possible with many people on the appropriation bill. Senator BENNETT JOHNSTON. We cannot other side of the aisle. I might say, all Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I thank the just ignore it. Do I want to bring it up of these pending amendments are to distinguished managers of this very now at a time when we are trying to make sure that amendments to the au- important legislation: Senator STE- work together to move Presidential

VerDate Aug 31 2005 23:37 Jul 02, 2008 Jkt 041999 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA16\1996_F~1\S11JY6.REC S11JY6 mmaher on MIKETEMP with SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS S7744 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 11, 1996 nominations, judicial appointments, Mr. STEVENS. I sought to accelerate But I also have obligations to the appropriations bills? No. But I do not the time to vote on the Defense appro- people of the State of Nevada and of have a choice. As majority leader, priations bill. If we could bring that to this country to have every opportunity when I have bipartisan senior leaders a vote at 1 o’clock, I feel certain we that I can to speak about S. 1936, which of the Congress come to me and say we will get cloture, and we would have 30 the President is going to veto. That is have a fundamental national issue that hours for debate on this bill. I believe one of the points I tried to make yes- must be addressed, I cannot ignore it. that would expire before the time to terday. Hopefully, I did it well. I think Does it eat up time? Yes. We blew 4 vote on the nuclear waste bill, which, we are wasting a lot of time here, when or 5 hours yesterday. We could have under other circumstances, will come the President says he is going to veto finished this bill last night or this first on Monday. the bill anyway. So I will be happy to morning. Are we balled up here now? I am prepared to state that I think cooperate in any way that I can. It is Yes. Do I want that? No. But can we ig- we can finish the bill today or tomor- my understanding, as someone told me, nore our responsibility? Absolutely row. It might mean that we would stay that there might be some need for a re- not. in session tonight to do so. But I would cess. Now, let me say again, I am sympa- like to get this bill through. I think Even though I do not speak very loud thetic to how the Senators from Ne- that there is no greater issue facing most of the time, I have the oppor- vada feel. I know they cannot accept the country today than the amount tunity and the right as a Senator to this without a fight. But I ask the dis- and level of support for our armed serv- follow the rules. That is all I am ask- tinguished Senator from Nevada to ices and the people in Bosnia. I think ing to do. I am not asking that any spe- allow us to do our work on the Depart- the uncertainty involved here is going cial privilege be extended to this Sen- ment of Defense appropriations bill, to lead to some real problems. ator. But as those Senators in this give us an opportunity to work with I hope that maybe we might have a Chamber know, I feel very strongly him and find any opportunity that we chance to have a recess and let us just can to be fair and work with him. But about S. 1936. I think it is a waste of try to discuss this with the Senator we cannot ignore this problem any fur- our time. I would like to take every from Nevada and others and see if we ther. So, again, I wanted to make those possible opportunity to speak on this. Mr. LOTT. Would the Senator from points. I think they are very impor- can get to this bill. There is no ques- tant. I hope that we can work some- tion in my mind that we are going to Nevada be willing to bring this bill up thing out. I will be glad to work with vote on this bill one way or the other. right now? Mr. REID. I would not. the Democratic leader. I know the If cloture is the only way to get to it, Mr. LOTT. I have just one reaction, if Democratic leader wants to proceed on we will have to do that. I can ask the Senator from Alaska to the Department of Defense appropria- Mr. LOTT. If the Senator will yield, continue to yield to me. First of all, I tions bill. He has assured me of that Mr. President, I would like to further would be amazed if the President of the personally. I know he has given the inquire, if I could, with the indulgence United States would veto this bill after managers, Senator INOUYE and Senator of the Senator from Alaska, with him it has gone through the House and the STEVENS, that commitment and assur- retaining control of the floor. What are ance. So I hope we can find a way to the wishes of the Senator from Nevada? Senate, supported by Senators from face up to this issue and also to allow Does he wish to just talk for a period of the diverse States I named, all the way the Senate to get its work done. time? Can we accommodate him in from Minnesota, Idaho, Vermont, New We are now locked in a rolling fili- some way? I do not want to cut him Hampshire, my own State, and perhaps buster on every issue, which is totally off, but I know that he has to be also others. But, if the Congress gets to the gridlocking the U.S. Senate. That is aware of the desires of the 98 other point where, just because of the mere wrong. It is wrong for America. We Senators in trying to get the work threat from the President of a veto, we cannot get the appropriations bills done of the Senate on the Department do not act, we might as well go ahead done. We cannot get the taxpayers’ bill of Defense appropriations bill. Would and leave now for the year because he of rights done. We cannot get the the Senator like to talk for an hour? is talking about vetoing every bill that White House Travel Office bill for Billy What are his intentions? is moving. I do not think we can use Dale done. We cannot get the gaming Mr. REID. I say to my friends, Sen- that as a basis of not acting on impor- commission issue up. I do not support ator INOUYE, Senator STEVENS, and the tant legislation. all of these bills, but we have an obli- majority leader that I understand the f gation to allow the Senate to do its importance of this bill. I am a member RECESS work. That is not happening. I hope we of the committee. I think we have had can find a way to do it on this bill the good fortune of having the other Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move today. military appropriations bill, military that the Senate stand in recess until I yield the floor. construction, passed. I am very happy the hour of 1 p.m. today. UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST about that. I received the support of Mr. REID. Objection. Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask Senators STEVENS and INOUYE on that. I wish to make an inquiry. unanimous consent, notwithstanding That bill pales in the comparison to Will the Senator from Alaska yield rule XXII, that the cloture vote with this bill, and I understand that. for a question; or the majority leader? respect to the pending bill, the DOD But I respectfully say to my friend, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The appropriations bill, occur at 1 p.m., and the majority leader, that I disagree Chair advises the Senator that a unani- I might say that we are prepared to let that S. 1936 is the most important envi- mous-consent request is pending. Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I moved the Senator from Nevada talk and have ronmental issue facing this Congress. I that the Senate stand in recess until 1 all the time between now and 1 p.m. say, respectfully, to my friend that if p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there the majority feels this is the most im- objection? Mr. REID. I apologize to the Chair. portant environmental issue, no won- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Mr. REID. I object. der the American public is upset at The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- objection? some of the environmental stands tion is heard. Mr. REID. I object. Mr. REID addressed the Chair. taken by this Congress. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I have Now, I say to my friends, I support question occurs on the motion. not yielded the floor. this bill. I speak in favor of this bill. I Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- believe, as outlined by Senators INOUYE nays. ator from Alaska has the floor. and STEVENS, that we do not have an The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, will the obligation—in fact, we have a contrary sufficient second? Senator from Alaska yield? obligation—to go along with what the There is not a sufficient second. Mr. STEVENS. Yes. White House suggests as to levels of The question is on agreeing to the Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, what was military spending. We are a separate, motion. the consent that was asked for and ob- just-as-important, equal branch of Gov- Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and jected to? ernment. Therefore, I support this bill. nays.

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